Landlords were able to charge 3.7 % rent rate increase in 2017 in BC, while in 2016 they were stopped at a 2.9% increase, however when someone vacates their apartment the landlord often jacks up the rent by 10% or 15% because of the unawareness of the unsuspecting new tenants. WTF!

We surely all understand that if a landlord tells a tenant who's currently paying $1200/mth that starting immediately they'll be paying $1800/mth, that's a problem. And rental increase guidelines address that problem.

But if an apartment is vacant then for a landlord to "hike" the rent doesn't mean a tenant gets gouged. It's just a vacant apartment.

If a prospective tenant views that apartment and doesn't feel it's worth $1800/mth then they won't sign the lease... right? They're not suddenly "behind the 8-ball" or something -- it's just another thing that someone wants too much money for, and aren't we all equipped to deal with that? It's no different from someone who wants to sell you their generic mountain bike for $1800. No, thanks.

Everytime someone moves, landlords get carte blanche to jack up the rents as much as they can I'm sure is the purpose of the rentalsman.

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Unawareness has nothing to do with it, NorthReport.

We surely all understand that if a landlord tells a tenant who's currently paying $1200/mth that starting immediately they'll be paying $1800/mth, that's a problem. And rental increase guidelines address that problem.

But if an apartment is vacant then for a landlord to "hike" the rent doesn't mean a tenant gets gouged. It's just a vacant apartment.

If a prospective tenant views that apartment and doesn't feel it's worth $1800/mth then they won't sign the lease... right? They're not suddenly "behind the 8-ball" or something -- it's just another thing that someone wants too much money for, and aren't we all equipped to deal with that? It's no different from someone who wants to sell you their generic mountain bike for $1800. No, thanks.